More funding for carp eradication teams

By SARAH GRAHAM | Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Bryan Green announced that an additional $400,000 will be provided for the Carp Management Program in this year’s State Budget.

The Service has invested heavily in the control of carp at lakes Sorell and Crescent over the past 15 years. It has received financial support primarily through State government funding and to a lesser extent, the Commonwealth government.

During this time, the Service has successfully contained the carp invasion to these lakes, which was its number one priority. It went on to significantly reduce the carp population in both lakes using innovative technology, and last year, appears to have achieved a total eradication of carp from Lake Crescent.

Favourable environmental conditions last year, however, led to limited spawning and successful recruitment of juvenile carp in Lake Sorell.

This was a major set-back for the carp team which was so close to achieving its long term goal of eradicating the pest fish from Tasmanian waters.

The additional funding in this year’s budget will buoy the spirits of the carp team and it will enable the implementation of further strategies to gain greater control of the carp population in the extensive waters of Lake Sorell.

This work will focus on the capture of as many of the juvenile fish from the 2009-10 spawning as possible, while preventing any further spawning or subsequent population outbreaks in the 2010-11 season.

Meanwhile, the carp team will continue to closely monitor Lake Crescent for the presence of any carp. — IFS

Woods Lake Road has been steadily improved since this photo in 2005

Road maintenance work on Woods Lake Road has been undertaken during the closed season and is now complete. The work, which involved correcting road side drainage, installation of delineators at culverts and the filling of potholes, was jointly funded by the IFS and Hydro Tasmania.

The extent of the work was from just past Yengena settlement at Arthurs Lake Dam all the way to Woods Lake Dam, a total distance of approx 12.5km.

Anglers can do their part in limiting damage to the road surface, their vehicles and boats by travelling at speeds conducive to the conditions. The recommended maximum speed, in ideal conditions, for this type of road is 20-40 km/h. — IFS

Willow removal on Macquarie River

The Inland Fisheries Service is continuing to remove willows on the Macquarie River as part of the Anglers Access program which has already improved onsite angling infrastructure, signage and information.

Additional funding provided by NRM North has enabled the latest work involving extensive willow removal and riparian remediation on two properties, Woolmers and Brickendon, near Longford.

Both properties are also involved in Angler Access projects to improve access and fishing in the Macquarie River. Mersey NRM services have been the principle contractor and used this as a valuable training site.

The removal of willow will considerably increase the extent of fishable water downstream from Woolmers Bridge and the fishing will be further improved with the installation of fence stiles, footbridges, off stream stock watering and riparian fencing.

Anglers will be able to experience the benefits of improved access at the start of the new season in August. — IFS

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) has allocated $400,000 in funds this year derived from recreational boat registrations to develop and enhance recreational boating facilities around the State.

MAST called for public submissions for funding for suitable projects from January to March 2010 and held talks with applicants, including on site visits, to discuss the proposals during April. A full list of these proposals submitted to MAST can be viewed at www.mast.tas.gov.au.

A series of public meetings, listed below, is now being planned to provide the boating community in various regions with the opportunity to provide input the proposed projects within their local area.

At each of the meetings, MAST will give an overview of the relevant projects to enable a detailed discussion. Projects for inland waters and the East Coast will be discussed at each of forum, since freshwater anglers and boaters frequenting the East Coast live all around the State.

After the public forums, the MAST Board will meet to select the successful projects, which will be announced during June.

To have your say on the projects for 2010, you are invited to attend one of the regional meetings as detailed below. The meetings all commence at 7.00pm and will be held on:

• Monday, 10 May at the Burnie Yacht Club, The Esplanade, South Burnie
• Monday, 17 May, at the Tamar Yacht Club, Park Street, Launceston
• Tuesday, 18 May, at the Bellerive Yacht Club, Cambridge Road, Bellerive

Distribution of transmitter fish in Lake Sorell between January and March 2010

The latest update on the Carp Management Program from Inland Fisheries Service reports:

Despite the Carp Management Team’s intensive efforts to prevent the remaining adult carp in Lake Sorell from spawning in late 2009, it became apparent just prior to Christmas that some carp had been successful.

Juvenile Carp were first found at the northern end of Silver Plains the week prior to Christmas. Further Sampling discovered more juveniles in the main Silver Plains drain, Robertsons, Kermodes, Duck Bay and Kemps marshes.

An intensive treatment operation was put in place to remove as many juvenile carp as possible while still inhabiting shallow vegetation areas before dispersing into deeper water.

Rotenone, a derris based fish poison, was used to kill over 14,000 fish during a 6 week period. Intensive fishing effort has since been undertaken to remove schools of juvenile fish and to gain knowledge and an understanding of this new population.

Early indications suggest that we may have already removed up to two thirds of this cohort. Lake Sorell was tracked a total of 21 times between January and March. Due to the majority of time spent catching juvenile carp tracking effort was subsequently reduced over this period.

Download the full report here [PDF 466Kb].

Lake Catagunyah boat ramp constructed last year. Photograph: IFS

MAST, Hydro and IFS have been working together over recent years to upgrade and construct access and boating facilities at a number of the State’s top waters, particularly in response to low water levels (eg Arthurs Lake, Great Lake, Lake Echo and Catagunya).

The Draft Boating and Infrastructure Plan has been developed in partnership between the three organisations to help guide funding priorities for boating facilities into the future. It is available for comment until 30 May 2010.

This is also a reminder to angling clubs that applications for MAST’s Recreational Boating Fund in 2010 should be submitted by 31 March.

Read more here

More space for kids to catch a fish at the Trout Weekend, Liawenee this May. Photograph: IFS

IFS has just completed the construction of a second juniors’ fishout pond at Liawenee in preparation for the IFS Trout Weekend on 22-23 May, which effectively doubles the space for kids to fish for trout.

Fishcare Volunteers have managed the kids fishout pond at the weekend event over the past two years and it is extremely popular, with many happy kids taking home their catch.

Read more here

Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) and Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT) have completed the Anglers Access project on the River Leven.

This project is building on the success of similar projects completed on Brumbys Creek, Macquarie River and the Huon River and is proposed for other rivers including the Derwent, Tyenna and Meander rivers.

The project has focussed on providing access to the various stretches of the Leven that typify the diversity of this renowned fishery including:

• The tidal section particularly along Lobster Creek Road from Allison Bridge (Golf course) to the Pump house
• Dial Ranges that provides access to the river within State Forest and offers a day walk fishing experience
• The renowned Gunns Plains area that focuses on easy wading over riffled runs and pools
• The Loongana area that offers the opportunity to capture a wild rainbow trout amidst stunning scenery
• Stiles, signs and other infrastructure such as pedestrian bridges, steps, gates and electric fence insulators have been installed to provide improved information, amenity and access for anglers.

The IFS/AAT project has focussed on developing and identifying access to locations where there is scope for shore based angling or wading.

These locations are identified on the access brochure that is available via the IFS website as a downloadable PDF file (River Leven brochure). A printed version will be distributed early in the New Year and will be available from major tackle shops or by contacting the IFS on 1300 INFISH.

Significant funding has been provided from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Recreational Fisheries Community Grants Program however the project would not have been possible without the cooperation and assistance of numerous private landowners, Central Coast Council, Mersey NRM Services and Forestry Tasmania.

Negotiations continue to further improve access – updates will be provided on the IFS website as they occur.

For further information on Anglers Access contact the Project Manager, Neil Morrow on 0438 279 421.

IFS and AAT have been implementing the Anglers Access projects on the Macquarie (above) and Huon (left) rivers during 2009.

The projects have involved negotiations with private and public landowners, completion of access agreements, riparian works including willow removal and installation of stiles, fences, water troughs and signs.

With all the ‘on the ground’ work now essentially completed the final stage has been the development of the Anglers Access brochures for distribution in both hard copy from major tackle shops and via the IFS, Fishing Tasmania and AAT websites.

The brochures are now available and will be distributed to tackle shops. Alternatively you can contact the IFS on 1300 463 474 or email infish@ifs.tas.gov.au and we will send you a copy.

The Huon brochure identifies access points between the seaward limit at Castle Forbes Bay to the Huon Track upstream from the Tahune Airwalk.

The Macquarie brochure focuses on the area between Longford and Ross and includes a section of the Lake River.

Anglers are reminded that these projects would not have been possible without the cooperation of private landowners and that the basic principle of Anglers Access is: ‘Access is a privilege not a right – if in doubt ask.’

Anglers must observe the access signs and where access is not specifically identified assume that they must seek permission from the landowner.

Download the new Macquarie River Brochure. [PDF - 1.7Mb]

Download the new Huon River Brochure [PDF - 1.6Mb]

In the heart of Tasmania is the Central Highlands region – home to some of Australia’s most pristine fishing lakes. With a small human population of 2,000 and a trout population in the millions the Central Highlands is the ideal holiday spot for keen fishermen.

In the peak fishing months of September through to March the population of its quaint townships are swelled by an additional 30,000 people!

As good as this is for the tourism and the economy of local towns, there is a historic issue surrounding the additional litter created as a result of the influx of people to the camping and fishing areas, during the fishing season.

Litter is often left to scatter into the lakes affecting its ecology and the health of its inhabitants.

To address the litter issue, and following the consolidation of waste transfer stations in the region, a number of organisations have partnered with Anglers Alliance Tasmania (AAT) to encourage both residents and visiting anglers to Do the Right Thing and keep the Central Highlands Clean.

The partners in the project include a mix of government, non-government organisations and industry — AAT, Central Highlands Council, Hydro Tasmania, Inland Fisheries Service, Packaging Stewardship Forum of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Recreational Lakes Committee, Sustainable Environmental Assessment and Management (SEAM) and Southern Waste Strategic Authority.

The $20,000 project has seen the installation of new Public Place Recycling (PPR) bin stations at 10 key township locations and supporting roadside signs at litter ‘hotspots’ within the region.

The roadside signs and the bins carry the Do the Right Thing message and brand image – a well known anti-litter message which has been running throughout Australia for over 30 years and is recognised by 80% of Australian’s as meaning ‘put your litter in the bin’.

In support of the new infrastructure, Central Highlands Council has promoted the locations and opening hours of the regions waste transfer stations including the materials they accept.

Waste transfer stations are at Arthurs Lake, Bothwell, Bronte Park and Miena as well as the Hamilton Tip, most waste is accepted with the exception of asbestos, refrigerators containing gas (and with doors on), gas bottles (with taps on) and chemicals.

Since the commencement of the project in August 2008, there has been a 40% increase in the volume of recycling collected through the new PPR bin s, five waste transfer stations and kerbside collection.

In the paste year the waste going to landfill has reduced by nearly 750,000kg and the amount of materials recycled has close to doubled. This is a reassuring result and proves that people are starting to Do the Right Thing.

Do the Right Thing is but a start of a concerted effort to return pride to the Central Plateau’s environment and new projects such as “Adopt a Water,” are planned over the next 12 months. Progress can be followed on AAT and Fishing Tasmania.

And, don’t forget to ‘Look Who’s Littering on the Roads’ and Report a Litterer on 1300 135 513. — Richard Dax, Chairman, Anglers Alliance Tasmania